DOJ Reportedly Shielded Troops From Prosecution For Strikes Against Alleged Drug Vessels

The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel said in a classified opinion that troops taking part in the military operation in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific won't be exposed to prosecution for their actions, according to a new report.

The Washington Post noted that the decision to pursue such an opinion illustrates concerns within the administration about the legality of the actions, which have so far killed 76 people across 19 different strikes.

Several officers advised caution on the matter, according to the Post. They included Admiral Alvin Holsey, the head of the Southern Command, who has since announced he will step down from his post at the end of the year, one year into a typically three-year assignment.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the outlet that "current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law" and that all actions are in "complete compliance with the law of armed conflict."

"No lawyer involved has questioned the legality of the Caribbean strikes and instead advised subordinate commanders and [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth that the proposed actions were permissible before they commenced," Parnell added.

However, other countries have taken steps to distance themselves from the operation. CNN reported this week that the United Kingdom has suspended intelligence sharing with the U.S. on the matter, citing concerns that the information could be used to support military strikes it considers unlawful.

The move marked an unusual break between close intelligence partners and reflects broader skepticism among U.S. allies regarding the legal basis of the Trump administration's military maritime campaign. The pause allegedly began more than a month ago.

For years, the UK has provided intelligence from Caribbean territories to support US Coast Guard interdictions, during which suspected vessels were boarded, crews detained, and narcotics seized, CNN added.

Officials, however, grew concerned after the US shifted from interdiction to airstrikes, and now believe the operations violate international law. The outlet noted that the UK shares the view of UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who recently has said the attacks constitute "extrajudicial killing."

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, on his end, said the country will stop all communications with U.S. security agencies over the Trump administration's strikes.

"It is ordered to all echelons of the public forces' intelligence services to suspend communications and other dealings with U.S. security agencies. Such a measure will continue while the missile attacks against boats in the Caribbean. The fight against drugs must be subordinated to the Caribbean people's human rights," Petro said in a social media publication when responding to the CNN report about the UK's move.